Boathouse lease raises questions about Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame has preserved the state’s athletic history for 65 years. Now, its home at the Wichita Boathouse is up for discussion.
Bill Koch’s America3 Foundation recently asked the Wichita City Council to get out of its boathouse lease.
If the council accepts, the sports hall of fame might lease directly from the city, move to another location or exist only online.
The hall formed during the state’s centennial and has uniforms from Jim Ryun and Lynette Woodard.
Executive director Richard Konzem says the hall needs a better revenue source and more foot traffic to survive.
“We've got to determine what's going to be best for the sports hall. And right now we don't know the answer to that,” he said.
City Council members deferred a decision until early September. They are debating who should pay for the building’s roof repairs.
Portion of Douglas will be reduced to three lanes soon
Construction begins next week to reduce a section of Douglas down to three lanes.
Drivers can expect delays starting Wednesday between Washington and Grove.
The work is expected to last about six months.
It's part of the City of Wichita’s pilot project to slow down cars and improve pedestrian safety in the area.
Bike lanes and enhanced crosswalks will also be installed. City staff will use the area to gather traffic data for future projects.
To help with traffic, no work will be done between I-135 and Grove while school is in session.
Small businesses can seek financial relief after drought
Small businesses in some western Kansas counties can seek financial relief amid drought in the region.
Many counties have been in a drought since spring. That drought not only affects farmers, but also creates ripple effects for industries like manufacturing and retail.
Small businesses in most affected counties can now apply for loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The agency is offering low-interest loans of up to $2 million.
The loans can be used to cover debt, help with payroll or pay bills neglected during the dry summer.
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